Automated food dispenser

ABSTRACT

A feeder including: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior; c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body; and wherein the feeder includes one or more of: i) the fin(s) are flexible; ii) sensing device(s) part of a sensing tower configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) sensing device(s) configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the serving area.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No.:62/733,811 filed on Sep. 20, 2018, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present teachings generally relate to a feeder which is able tostore an overall quantity of food and dispense a predetermined andconsistent amount of food. The feeder may be particularly suitable forfeeding one or more animals, such as a household pet.

BACKGROUND

Food dispensers with rotary dispenser wheels are known to be used fordispensing food with a predetermined serving size. These food dispensersgenerally have a hopper in fluid communication with the rotary dispenserwheel. The rotary dispenser wheel typically has a core surrounded by aplurality of fins or vanes. The distance between the fins or vanes maycomprise a serving size of the food to be dispensed. The fins or vanesfunction to both prevent food from being dispensed and moving food to bedispensed from the hopper. Exemplary food dispensers are disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,964,355 and 7,597,219, which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

One challenge associated with such food dispensers with rotary dispenserwheels is that they are not generally used for feeding of domesticanimals. These types of dispensers may be used for dry foods, likecereals, by humans and the rotary dispenser wheel may be rotated by amanual knob. A human may place a bowl or plate underneath the rotarydispenser wheel and manually turn the rotary dispenser wheel to dispensefood from the hopper. Another challenge presented by the rotarydispenser wheel is that the plurality of fins or vanes surrounding acore present a plurality of components which may break or become jammedwith food. Additionally, some of these food dispensers do not haveintegrated feeding areas useful by animals, and incorporating a feedingarea may provide a food dispenser which is too bulky for practical usein a home.

What is needed is a feeder useful by domesticated animals. It would beattractive to have a feeder which stores a plurality of servings offood. It would be attractive to have a feeder which is a multi-dayfeeder. What is needed is an automated feeder which dispenses food atpredetermined quantities, predetermined time intervals, predeterminedfood levels, or a combination thereof. What is needed is feeder whichautomatically dispenses food from within an interior to a serving area.What is needed is a feeder which is able to monitor the levels of foodlocated within an interior, within a serving area, or both. What isneeded is a feeder which is able to alert a user of one or more statusesof the feeder, food, animal, or a combination thereof. What is needed isa dispenser of a feeder which reduces the chance of jamming. It would beattractive to have a feeder which is large enough to provide feedingspace for an animal while also being small enough to be located in asmall area of a home, including a counter top.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a feeder comprising: a) a base portionhaving a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the baseportion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamberinterior; c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of thegranular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion ofthe granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area,wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body configured to partiallyrotate about a rotational axis; and ii) one or more fins projecting fromthe rocker body, wherein a distance between the rocker body and the oneor more fins is adapted to receive the portion of the granular material.

The feeder of the disclosure may include one or more of the followingfeatures in any combination: i) the one or more fins are flexible alonga length of the one or more fins; ii) one or more sensing devices arepart of a sensing tower which at least partially extends through thechamber portion, and wherein the one or more sensing devices areconfigured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of thegranular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) one or morechute sensing devices configured to sense the presence, distance, and/oramount of the granular material within the serving area.

The disclosure also relates to a method of dispensing food with thefeeder according to the teachings herein.

The present teachings may provide a feeder useful by domesticatedanimals. The feeder may include a chamber portion having a hoppercapable of storing multiple days' worth of servings of food. The feedermay include a dispenser having a rocker body and one or more fins. Oneor more serving cavities forming a serving size of food to be dispensedmay be determined by the distance between one or more surfaces of therocker body and a fin. The dispenser may have a single fin. The fin maybe flexible along its length which may aid in unjamming and preventingjamming of the fin, rocker body, food, or a combination thereof. Thedispenser may rock back and forth between two dispensing positions and asingle resting position, as opposed to rotating completely about arotational axis. The limited rotation of the dispenser may aid inpreventing jamming of food, the fin, or both in the dispenser cradle,the chute, or both. The feeder may include a plurality of sensors. Thesensors may sense the presence, distance, amount, or a combinationthereof of food within a hopper, chute, serving area, or a combinationthereof. Based on a signal detected from one or more sensors, adispenser may dispense food or may be restricted from dispensing food.Based on a signal detected by one or more sensors, one or more statusindicators may inform a user of a condition of the feeder. Additionally,the feeder may generally have a serving area located underneath thehopper and integrated into the housing such that the feeder is compactenough for residential space while large enough to be comfortable foruse by an animal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a feeder according to theteachings herein.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a feeder according to the teachingsherein.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a feeder according to the teachings herein.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a feeder according to the teachingsherein.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a feeder according to the teachingsherein.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of a feeder according to the teachingsherein.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a feeder according to the teachingsherein.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a feeder along section B-B of FIG.7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a feeder along section A-A of FIG.8.

FIG. 10A is a dispenser of a feeder in a resting position according tothe teachings herein.

FIG. 10B is a dispenser of a feeder in a dispensing position accordingto the teachings herein.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a feeder according to the teachingsherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended toacquaint others skilled in the art with the present teachings, itsprinciples, and its practical application. The specific embodiments ofthe present teachings as set forth are not intended as being exhaustiveor limiting of the present teachings. The scope of the present teachingsshould be determined with reference to the appended claims, along withthe full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Thedisclosures of all articles and references, including patentapplications and publications, are incorporated by reference for allpurposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned fromthe following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by referenceinto this written description.

The feeder may be any device that includes and dispenses food forconsumption by an animal. Food may include any type of food suitable forconsumption by an animal. Food may include solid food, semi-solid food,liquid, the like, or a combination thereof. Solid food may be in theform of granular material. The animal may be any domestic animal. Adomestic animal may include a dog, cat, pig, rabbit, hamster, guineapig, ferret, the like, or any combination thereof. In a typicalpet-owning household, the domestic animal may include one or more cats,dogs, or both. The feeder may include one or more of the followingfeatures: a housing, base portion, chamber portion, hopper, intermediateportion, feeding cavity, serving area, feeding dish, a chute, a cover,one or more handles, a control panel, a dispenser, one or more sensors,a sensing tower, drive source, a power source, or any combinationthereof. The feeder may include a base portion, chamber portionsupported by the base portion, and a dispenser. The feeder may have afront opposing a rear. The front of the feeder may be the side of thefeeder in which a feeding cavity is exposed. The feeder may have a topopposing a bottom. The bottom of the feeder may be the portion of thefeeder which rests on a surface during normal use of the feeder.

The feeder may include a housing. The housing may function to house oneor more components of the feeder, store food within the feeder, providea serving area in the feeder, or any combination thereof. The housingmay include a base portion, intermediate portion, chamber portion, or acombination thereof. The housing may be a single, unitary piece, or aplurality of pieces assembled together. For example, the base portionmay be molded with a piece of the intermediate portion or may beattached thereto. The housing may include a chamber portion adjacent andaffixed to an intermediate portion. The housing may include anintermediate portion adjacent to and affixed to a base portion.

The housing may have a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. Thelongitudinal axis may extend from a bottom through a top (e.g., cover)of the feeder. The longitudinal axis may be centered or off-centeredrelative to a sensing tower, opening in a cover, handle in a cover, orany combination thereof. The longitudinal axis may lie within and/or beparallel to a median plane. The housing may be substantially symmetricalor asymmetrical relative to the median plane. Substantially and/orgenerally may mean within a tolerance of about 1 degree, about 5degrees, or even about 10 degrees. Substantially and/or generally maymean within about +/−1% or greater, about +/−5% or greater, or evenabout +/−10% or greater. The median plane may divide the housing and/orfeeder in half, between a left and a right side. Substantiallyperpendicular to the median plane is a transverse plane. The transverseplane may also have the longitudinal axis lying therein and/or parallelthereto. The transverse plane may intersect the median plane at or bedistanced from the longitudinal axis. The transverse plane may dividethe housing and/or the feeder between a front and rear.

The feeder may include a base portion. The base portion may function tosupport a chamber portion and/or intermediate portion, provide a servingarea, retain a feeding dish, house one or more power sources and/ordrive sources, or any combination thereof. The base portion may belocated adjacent to a chamber portion, intermediate portion, or both.The base portion may be located below the chamber portion, intermediateportion, or both. The base portion may have a shape suitable for forminga feeding cavity and allowing an animal at least partial access into thefeeding cavity. The base portion may be formed by an inner shell, outershell, a serving area, or a combination thereof. The base portion may besubstantially hollow to provide access to the feeding cavity. The baseportion may have a shape which is generally cubical, cylindrical,spherical, conical, cubical, prismed, cuboidal, the like, or anycombination thereof. The base portion may have a generally cuboidalshape. The base portion may have one or more side walls, bottom wall,upper wall, any combination thereof. The base portion may have one ormore, two or more, three or more, or even four or more side walls. Thebase portion may have a bottom wall connecting one or more side walls.The base portion may have a substantially cuboidal shape with only threeside walls and a bottom wall. The absence of a wall may provide accessinto the feeding cavity. The three walls may be located at two or moresides and a rear of the feeder. The absence of a wall may be located ata front of the feeder. The two opposing side walls and bottom wall mayform a cross-section which is substantially U-shaped. The cross-sectionmay be taken parallel to a transverse plane of the feeder. The baseportion may be formed of one unitary piece or separate pieces. The baseportion may include an outer shell. The outer shell may function as theexterior of the base portion. The base portion may include an innershell. The inner shell may serve as an interior of the base portion. Theouter shell may have a shape substantially reciprocal with and similarto the inner shell. The inner shell may nest inside of the outer shell.The inner shell may rest at a bottom of the outer shell.

The base portion may include a bottom of the feeder. The bottom of thefeeder may be suitable for resting the feeder on a surface. The bottomof the feeder may be located opposite a top of the feeder, opposite acover of the feeder, or both. The surface for resting the feeder mayinclude a floor, table, counter, or any other surface accessible by ananimal and suitable for feeding. A bottom of the feeder may be generallyplanar. A generally planar bottom may be suitable for resting the bottomdirectly on a surface. The bottom of the feeder may include a pluralityof feet. The plurality of feet may project away from the bottom, in adirection substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis, away from atop of the feeder, away from a bottom wall of the base portion, or anycombination thereof. A plurality of feet may include two or more feet,three or more feet, four or more feet, or even five or more feet. Aplurality of feet may be spaced about the bottom of the feeder. Theplurality of feet may be spaced near the periphery of the bottom. Theplurality of feet may be uniformly or non-uniformly spaced about abottom opening and/or bottom cap of the base portion. The plurality offeet may be integral with or affixed to the base portion, outer shell,or both. The bottom of the feeder may include on or more non-slipsurfaces. For example, if the bottom is generally planar, the bottom mayinclude a plurality of small rubber pads affixed thereto. As anotherexample, each of the feet may include a non-slip material (e.g., rubber)located thereon.

The base portion may include a base receptacle. The base receptacle mayfunction to house one or more power sources, communication modules,electrical connections, or a combination thereof. The base receptaclemay be located in any portion of the housing suitable for housing thepower sources, communication modules, electrical connections, or acombination thereof. The base receptacle may have any suitable size andshape. The base receptacle may be located in a base portion,intermediate portion, chamber portion, or a combination thereof. Thebase receptacle may be located in the bottom of the base portion. Beinglocated in the bottom may provide ease of access while also concealingthe base receptacle during normal use of the feeder. The base receptaclemay be located below a feeding cavity, serving area, chute, chute wall,or a combination thereof. The base receptacle may be accessed by abottom opening. A bottom opening may allow for changing of one or morepower sources (e.g., batteries), accessing one or more power sources foran electrical connection (e.g., AC adapter), or both. The bottom openingmay be formed in the bottom of the base portion. The bottom opening maybe located within a periphery of the bottom. The bottom opening may becovered by a bottom cap. The bottom cap may function to restrict accessinto the base receptacle, protect any components housed within the basereceptacle, or both. For example, the bottom cap may prevent dust,liquid, and other contaminants from entering into the base receptacle.The bottom cap may be secured to the bottom of the base portion by oneor more fastening mechanisms. One or more fastening mechanisms mayinclude one or more threaded fasteners, tabs, snaps, the like, or anycombination thereof. The base receptacle, bottom cap, bottom opening,and/or a combination thereof may be located opposite of a feedingcavity.

The feeder may include a feeding cavity. The feeding cavity may functionto house a serving area, feeding dish, or both; provide space for achute to dispense food into a serving area, feeding dish, or both;provide space for an animal to consume food; or any combination thereof.The feeding cavity may be formed in a gap in the housing. The feedingcavity may be formed by a gap between a chamber portion and baseportion. The feeding cavity may be formed between an intermediateportion and a base portion. For example, the feeding cavity may beformed in a gap between a lower shell of an intermediate portion and aserving area of a base portion. The feeding cavity may be formed as anopening in a front, rear, side, or a combination thereof of the feeder.For example, the feeding cavity may be formed as an opening on a frontof the housing extending toward the rear of the feeder but not passingcompletely through. The feeding cavity may include a feeding dishtherein. The feeding cavity may have any suitable size in which the headof an animal may at least partially enter into the feeding cavity andhave access to food within a serving area, feeding dish, or both forconsumption. The feeding cavity may have a width which minimizes orprevents contact between whiskers of an animal and surfaces of a housingwhile the animal is consuming the food. The feeding cavity may have awidth of about 75 mm or greater, about 125 mm or greater, or even about200 mm or greater. The feeding cavity may have a width of about 1,500 mmor less, about 1,000 mm or less, about 500 mm or less, or even about 250mm or less. The width of a feeding cavity may be measured as thedistance between opposing side walls of the base portion (e.g., opposingside walls of an inner shell).

The feeder may comprise a serving area. The serving area may function toguide food toward a feeding dish, retain a feeding dish, provide food inan accessible manner for an animal to consume, or any combinationthereof. The serving area may be formed by any portion of the housingsuitable for having a feeding dish located thereon and accessible by ananimal. The serving area may be formed by one or more portions of thehousing. The serving area may be formed in the base portion. The servingarea may be formed by a plurality of portions of a base portion. Theserving area may be comprised of a serving wall, an outer dish, or both.One portion of a serving wall may function to funnel food from a chutetoward a feeding dish. Another portion may function to retain a feedingdish, receive food from a serving wall and/or chute, provide an area forconsumption of the food, or a combination thereof. The serving wall maybe located adjacent to the outer dish, between an outer dish and achute, integrated with the outer dish, or a combination thereof. Theserving wall may be integrally formed with the outer dish portion. Theserving wall may be formed to extend over at least a portion of theouter dish. A serving wall of a serving area may serve as an extensionof a chute, may have a sloped design, or both. An outer dish portion mayhave a shape reciprocal with a feeding dish. An outer dish portion mayfunction to retain the feeding dish and allow for removal of the feedingdish (i.e., removal for washing of the dish). An outer dish portion maybe bowl-shaped. Bowl-shaped may mean having a substantially cylindricalouter wall projecting from a dish base wall which opposes an open end.The serving area may be positioned such as to aid in the delivery offood into a feeding dish from a chute, toward a front area of a feedingdish, or both. One or more portions of the serving area may be tilted atan angle toward a front of the feeder, relative to a longitudinal axis,relative to a transverse plane, or a combination thereof. The angle ofthe serving area may be any angle suitable for helping guide food towarda front of the serving area. The angle may be about 90 degrees orgreater, 95 degrees or greater, or even about 100 degrees or greaterrelative to the longitudinal axis, transverse plane, or both of thefeeder. The angle may be about 150 degrees or less, about 140 degrees orless, about 130 degrees or less, or even about 120 degrees or lessrelative to the longitudinal axis, transverse plane, or both of thefeeder. The angle may be the angle formed between an upward facingsurface (e.g., serving wall, dish base wall) of a portion of the servingarea and the longitudinal axis, transverse plane, or both. The angle maybe the angle facing toward a front of the feeder. One or more portionsof a serving area may be angled at a same, steeper or more gradual anglethan one or more other portions of a serving area or a chute. Forexample, an outer dish for a serving area may be angled about 90 degreesto about 100 degrees relative to a transverse plane and sloping downwardtoward a front of the feeder while a serving wall of a serving area maybe angled about 110 degrees to about 130 degrees relative to atransverse plane and sloping downward toward a front of the feeder. Theserving area may at least partially project beyond a portion of asurface of the housing or may be located entirely within the housing.The serving area may project beyond a front, rear, side, or acombination thereof of the housing. The serving area may project outsideof an opening of an inner shell, outer shell, or both of the baseportion.

The feeder may include a feeding dish. The feeding dish may function toretain dispensed food from the chamber portion, hopper, dispenser,chute, or a combination thereof allow access to an animal to consume thefood within the dish; provide a removable feeding surface; or anycombination thereof. The feeding dish may be located in a front, rear,side, or a combination thereof of a feeder. The feeding dish may have ashape suitable for having an animal consume food therefrom. The feedingdish may have a shape suitable for resting on and/or within the servingarea, outer dish, or both. The feeding dish may have a shape at leastpartially reciprocal with an outer dish of the base portion. The feedingdish may nest within an outer dish of a serving area. The feeding dishmay have a shape which is substantially cylindrical, conical, cubical,cuboid, the like, or a combination thereof. The feeding dish may besubstantially bowl-shaped. The feeding dish may be located within thehousing, project beyond the housing, or both. For an example, thefeeding dish may at least partially project beyond a front of thehousing, base portion, or both to allow ease of access by an animal. Thefeeding dish may be angled to help tilt food forward in the feedingdish, to avoid build-up of food at a rear of the feeding dish, or both.The angle of the feeding dish may be about 90 degrees or greater, 95degrees or greater, or even about 100 degrees or greater relative to thelongitudinal axis, transverse plane, or both of the feeder. The anglemay be about 130 degrees or less, about 120 degrees or less, or evenabout 110 degrees or less relative to the longitudinal axis, transverseplane, or both of the feeder. The angle may be the angle formed betweenan upward facing surface (e.g., upon which the food lies on) of thefeeding dish and the transverse plane. The feeding dish may have a lidaffixed thereto. The lid may prevent access to the feeding dish, allowaccess to the feeding dish, or both. The lid may be moveably affixed toany portion of the feeder to cover the feeding dish and be removablefrom the feeding dish. The lid may be affixed to the feeder by a hinge,spring, linear actuator, the like, or a combination thereof. The lid maybe in communication with a drive source. The drive source may be thesame or different which drives the drive shaft and dispenser of thefeeder. The drive source may be activated to open the lid, close thelid, or both. The lid may be in communication with one or more sensingdevices, selection interfaces, or both. Activation of a selectioninterface may open the lid, close the lid, or both. Activation of aselection interface may be completed by a user (e.g., human). Detectionof a trigger device by a sensing device may open the lid, close the lid,or both. A trigger device may be a tag, a barcode, another sensor, orthe like. A trigger device may be wearable by an animal. For example, atag may be affixed to a collar of an animal. The trigger device and thesensing device may use Bluetooth, wi-fi, radio frequency, or the like tocommunicate with one another.

The feeder may include a chamber portion. The chamber portion may beconfigured to retain food within a chamber interior, cooperate with adispenser and/or intermediate portion to dispense food into a servingarea, or both. The chamber portion may be located adjacent to anintermediate portion, base portion, or both. The chamber portion may belocated above an intermediate portion, base portion, or both. Beinglocated above the intermediate portion, base portion, or both may allowfor gravity to aid in movement of food from the chamber portion to aserving area. The chamber portion may rest atop a base portion, uppershell, or both. The chamber portion may be supported by the baseportion. The chamber portion may include a hopper, a cover, a dispensercover, one or more openings, or a combination thereof.

The chamber portion may include a hopper. The hopper may function toretain food, retain a plurality of servings of food, guide food toward adispenser, or any combination thereof. The hopper may have any suitableshape for retaining a plurality of servings of food, guiding food towarda dispenser, allowing access by one or more sensors and/or a sensortower, or any combination thereof. The hopper may have a shape which isgenerally cubical, cylindrical, spherical, conical, cubical, prismed,cuboidal, the like, or any combination thereof. For example, the hoppermay have a shape resembling a trapezoidal prism. The hopper may includea single or a plurality of side walls. The one or more side walls mayproject from a bottom wall of the hopper toward a top of the feeder,open end of the hopper, toward a cover, or a combination thereof. Abottom wall of the hopper may be generally planar, sloped, or acombination thereof. A bottom wall of the hopper may be funnel-shaped. Abottom wall of the hopper may be sloped toward a sensing tower, a hopperopening, a dispenser cradle, a dispenser, or any combination thereof.The bottom wall of the hopper may be sloped toward a sensing tower andcontinue to slope toward a dispenser cradle. The bottom wall may slopedownward away from the front of the feeder, side walls of the feeder, orboth to the rear of the feeder. The bottom wall may slope at any anglesuitable for funneling food in the hopper toward the dispenser cradle.The bottom wall may slope at an obtuse angle relative to a longitudinalaxis, transverse plane, or both. The bottom wall may slope at an angleof about 100 degrees or greater, about 110 degrees or greater, or evenabout 120 degrees or greater relative to a transverse plane,longitudinal axis, or both. The bottom wall may slope at an angle ofabout 150 degrees or less, about 140 degrees or less, or even about 130degrees or less relative to a transverse plane, longitudinal axis, orboth. The angle may be an angle facing toward a rear of the feeder. Thebottom wall may have a shape substantially reciprocal with an adjacentsurface of an intermediate portion. The bottom wall may have a shapesubstantially reciprocal with an upper shell of an intermediate portion.The bottom wall may rest on the upper shell of the intermediate portion.The bottom wall may include a hopper opening formed therethrough. Thehopper opening may function to receive a sensor tower. The hopperopening may be centered with a sensor tower, longitudinal axis, cover,cover opening, or a combination thereof. The hopper opening may allowthe hopper to be placed over the sensor tower, removed from the sensortower, placed on top of the intermediate portion, or a combinationthereof. When the hopper is located on the intermediate portion, theconical portion of a sensor tower may be located within the hopperopening.

One or more side walls and the bottom wall may define a hollow interiorof the hopper. The hollow interior may serve as the area which receivesand retains food for storage prior to dispensing into a serving area.The hollow interior may be defined by one or more bottom walls, sidewalls, or a combination of both. The hollow interior may be defined bythe volume between a bottom wall, side walls, and a cover of the chamberportion. The volume of the hollow interior may be any volume suitablefor holding multiple servings of food, preferably multiple days' worthof food. The volume of the hollow interior may be about 5 cups orgreater, about 7 cups or greater, or even about 10 cups or greater. Thevolume of the hollow interior may be about 50 cups or less, about 40cups or less, or even about 30 cups or less. The hollow interior mayhave a sensor tower located therein. The hollow interior may be in fluidcommunication with a dispenser cradle. The bottom wall may include adispenser opening. The dispenser opening may be located in proximity to,fluid communication with, or adjacent to a dispenser cradle. Thedispenser opening may be located substantially above a dispenser cradle.A dispenser opening may be located between a sensing tower and a rear ofa hopper. A dispenser opening may allow food located within the hopperto transfer into a dispenser cradle, dispenser, or both. The dispenseropening may be located adjacent to a dispenser cover.

The chamber portion may include a dispenser cover. The dispenser covermay function to cover a dispenser cradle. The dispenser cover may beformed as part of or affixed to any portion of the housing suitable forcovering a dispenser cradle. The dispenser cover may be affixed to bothan intermediate portion and a chamber portion. The dispenser cover maybe attached via one or more fasteners, a snap fit, an adhesive, thelike, or any combination thereof. The dispenser cover may be integralwith one or more portions of the housing. For example, the dispensercover may be integrally formed as part of the hopper. The dispensercover may be located on any portion of the hopper which is located inproximity to the dispenser cradle. The dispenser cover may be locatedadjacent to a dispenser opening of the hopper. The dispenser cover maybe located on the same side of the feeder as the dispenser cradle. Thedispenser cover may be located on a rear of the hopper. The dispensercover may project downward from a side wall, the bottom wall, or both atthe rear of the hopper. The dispenser cover may have a shapesubstantially reciprocal with or similar to a cross-section of adispenser cradle. A cross-section of the dispenser cover may becircular, square, triangular, elliptical, half-moon shaped, the like, ora combination thereof. For example, a cross-section of the dispenser maybe a half-moon or D-shaped. The cross-section may be taken on a planeparallel to a transverse plane, median plane, or both. If the dispenseris located at the rear of the feeder, the cross-section of the dispensercover may be taken along a plane substantially parallel to thetransverse plane of the feeder. The dispenser cover may have a snap-fitwith the intermediate portion about a periphery of a dispenser cradle.The dispenser cover may be located opposite the open end of the hopper,the cover, or both.

The feeder may include a cover. The cover may function to protect foodretained within the feeder, prevent contaminants from entering thehopper, restrict access to a chamber portion, allow temporary access toa chamber portion, or any combination thereof. The cover may beremovably affixed to a hopper of the chamber portion, a sensing tower,or both. The cover may rest atop the hopper. The cover may be secured tothe hopper via one or more attachments. The one or more attachments mayinclude a friction fit, snap fit, locking tabs, the like, or acombination thereof. For example, the perimeter of the cover may have asnap fit with a perimeter of the hopper. The perimeter of the cover mayfit at least partially or completely within an inside of the perimeterof the hopper. By the cover resting within the hopper, the peripheraledge of the cover is not able to be easily accessed. Accessibility mayrefer to an animal or child trying to lift the cover by the peripheraledge with their teeth, paws, hands, and/or the like, such as out ofcuriosity or desire for the food within the hopper. By reducingaccessibility to the peripheral edge of the cover, one or more animalsor humans may be prevented from accidentally or intentionally liftingthe cover off of the hopper. The cover may have a cross-sectional shapesubstantially similar to a cross-sectional shape of the hopper. Thecross-sectional shape may refer to one taken substantially perpendicularto a longitudinal axis of the hopper. The cross-sectional shape of thecover may be square, rectangular, elliptical, circular, triangular, thelike, or a combination thereof. The cover may be located opposite and/oradjacent to one or more walls of the hopper. The cover may be locatedgenerally opposite a bottom wall. The cover may receive a portion of asensing tower. The cover may include one or more openings. One or moreopenings may be formed in the cover so as to receive the sensing towertherethrough. One or more openings may be concentric with or off-centerfrom a sensing tower, hopper opening, longitudinal axis, or acombination thereof. The one or more openings may be sized to allow forany portion of a sensing tower to be located therein. The one or moreopenings may receive an upper end of the sensing tower, a cap of thesensing tower, or both. The one or more openings may be formed in ahandle of the cover.

The feeder may include a handle. The handle may function to facilitateremoval of a cover, placement of a cover, carrying of the feeder, or acombination thereof. The handle may be part of the housing. The handlemay be integral with or affixed to any portion of the housing. Thehandle may be included as part of a chamber portion, intermediateportion, base portion, or any combination thereof. The handle may beincluded as part of the cover. The handle may be affixed to or integralwith the cover. The handle may be centered or off-center relative to thecover. The handle may be centered to allow for receiving, engaging with,and/or locking relative to a sensing tower. The handle may have anysuitable shape allowing for placement, removal, or both of a cover fromthe chamber portion. The handle may be formed by one or moreindentations, projections, or both in the cover, or another part of thehousing. The cover may be formed by opposing indentations. Theindentations may have any suitable shape for allowing gripping of ahandle body. The indentations may have a cross-sectional shape which maybe substantially D-shaped, rectangular shaped, the like, or acombination thereof. The cross-sectional shape may be taken at across-section substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, medianplane, transverse plane, or a combination thereof. The handle body maybe a surface of the housing, such as the cover, located between theindentations, projections, or both. As an example, opposing indentationsmay be distanced from one another to form a handle body therebetween. Anopening of the cover may be located within the handle. The opening ofthe cover may be located within the handle body. A portion of thesensing tower may extend through the opening of the handle body. Thecover may be locked in place by one or more locks.

The feeder may include one or more locks. The one or more locks may beany lock suitable for retaining a cover in place, preventing an animalfrom removing the cover, allowing a user to intentionally remove andre-affix the cover, or a combination thereof. The one or more locks maybe located on the cover, the sensing tower, the hopper, or anycombination thereof. The one or more locks may include one or moredeflectable tabs with a snap fit; one or more spring-based locks; one ormore threaded locks; the like; or a combination thereof. For example,the one or more locks may include a pinch-grip lock having one or moresprings. The one or more locks may be located near the opening in thecover, about a sensor tower, or both. One or more lock portions of acover may engage with one or more lock portions of a sensor tower. Forexample, a lock portion affixed to the cover may engage with a capand/or upper end of a sensing tower.

The feeder may include an intermediate portion. The intermediate portionmay function to house one or more components therein, join a baseportion to a chamber portion, or both. The intermediate portion mayfunction to house or include one or more motorized components, drivesources, power sources, sensors, electronics, sensor towers, controlpanels, dispensers, or a combination thereof. The intermediate portionmay be adjacent to the chamber portion, base portion, or both. Theintermediate portion may be located between the chamber portion and baseportion. The intermediate portion may be located between a bottom wallof the chamber portion and an open end of the base portion. Theintermediate portion may include a hollow interior. The hollow interiormay be referred to as a mechanism cavity. The mechanism cavity may houseone or more portions of one or more motorized components, drive sources,power sources, sensors, electronics, the like, or a combination thereof.The intermediate portion may be comprised of a lower shell, an uppershell, or both. The hollow interior may be formed by a lower shellgenerally opposing an upper shell. The lower shell may be separate fromor integrally formed with the upper shell. The upper shell and lowershell may have a clam-shell fit forming the mechanism cavitytherebetween.

The intermediate portion may include an upper shell. The upper shell mayfunction to provide support for a chamber portion, hopper, or both. Theupper shell may function to house a dispenser. The upper shell mayfunction to include a sensing tower, control panel, dispenser cradle,chute, or a combination thereof. The upper shell may have a shapesuitable for being located adjacent to and cooperating with a hopper.The upper shell may have a shape substantially reciprocal with a basewall of a hopper. The upper shell may taper or slope from the front andside walls to the rear. The upper shell may have a sensing towerprojecting therefrom. The upper shell may taper from the exteriorperiphery toward the sensing tower. The upper shell may taper from acontrol panel toward the sensing tower, cradle dispenser, or both.

The feeder may include one or more sensing towers. A sensing tower mayfunction to sense food within a chamber portion, cooperate with a coverto prevent access into a hopper, or both. A sensing tower may be part ofor affixed to any portion of the housing suitable for sensing foodwithin a chamber portion, cooperating with a cover, or both. A sensingtower may be located in a hopper to sense the presence and/or amount offood within the hopper. A sensing tower may be integral with or affixedto a chamber portion, intermediate portion, base portion, or acombination thereof. A sensing tower may be affixed to or integral witha hopper (e.g., bottom wall), cover, upper shell, or a combinationthereof. A sensing tower may extend upward toward a cover from an uppershell, from a base wall of a hopper, or both. A sensing tower may passthrough a hopper opening of the hopper. A sensing tower may extenddownward from a cover toward a bottom wall of a hopper, upper shell,lower shell, or a combination thereof. A sensing tower may besubstantially co-axial, centered, or off-centered with a longitudinalaxis of the feeder. A sensing tower may have any suitable shape forincluding one or more electrical components therein, retaining one ormore sensors, helping funnel food toward a dispenser, or any combinationthereof. The sensing tower may be hollow, partially hollow, solid, or acombination thereof. Being at least partially hollow may provide a spacefor one or more electrical connections to extend through the interior ofthe sensing tower toward an upper end of the sensing tower. The hollowportion of the sensing tower may be in direct communication with themechanism cavity of the intermediate portion. The sensing tower may beconical, cylindrical, cubical, prismed, the like, or a combinationthereof. The sensing tower may have one continuous shape throughout itslength or a combination of differing shapes. The sensing tower may beconical and taper toward the cover. The tapering may aid in helpingfunnel food toward a dispenser. The sensing tower may be cylindrical.The sensing tower may have both a conical portion and a cylindricalportion. The conical portion may be located adjacent to the cylindricalportion. A conical portion may taper toward an adjacent cylindricalportion. A rounded cross-section, taken perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis, whether from a cylindrical portion, conical portion, or the like,may be beneficial in being free of sharp edges and providing acontinuous exterior surface. The continuous exterior surface of thesensing tower may allow for food to easily move around the sensing towerwhile moving toward the dispenser cradle. The sensing tower may have afree end. The free end may be the end of the sensing tower opposite thesurface to which it is attached or integral to. The free end may be theupper end of the sensing tower opposite the upper shell. The sensingtower may include a cap. The cap may function to cooperate with a cover,house one or more sensors, house one or more status indicators (e.g.,lights), protect one or more electrical components, restrict access intothe sensing tower, or a combination thereof. One or more statusindicators within a cap may work with one or more sensing devices. Theone or more status indicators within a cap may indicate a status of foodwithin a hopper, such as a fill level. The one or more status indicatorsmay have light and/or color visible through the cap at a cover. The capmay be located on the sensing tower nearest the cover, opposite theupper shell, at a free end of the sensing tower, or any combinationthereof. For example, the cap may be located on a cylindrical portion atthe upper end of the sensing tower. The cap may be retained onto thesensing tower by one or more threads, a friction fit, a snap fit, thelike, or any combination thereof. The cap may at least partially residewithin an opening of a cover. The cap may engage with one or more locksof the cover. The cap may include one or more lock engagement featureswhich mate with one or more locks of the cover.

The feeder may include one or more sensing devices. The one or moresensing devices may function to sense a presence, distance, amount, or acombination thereof of food within a chamber portion, an intermediateportion, a base portion, or any combination thereof. The one or moresensing devices may be part of a sensing tower. The one or more sensingdevices part of a sensing tower may be referred to as one or more towersensors, hopper sensors, the like, or both. One or more sensing devicesmay be affixed to a sensing tower at an upper end, between an upper endof the sensing tower and a cap, within at least a portion of an interiorof a sensing tower, or any combination thereof. One or more sensingdevices being located at an upper end of a sensing tower, toward the topof the hopper, adjacent to a cover, or a combination thereof may beparticularly beneficial in providing an optimal sensing presence (i.e.,line of sight) of the entire hopper. One or more sensing devices may beconfigured to sense the presence of food in a chute, serving area,feeding dish, or a combination thereof. One or more sensing devicesconfigured to sense the presence of food in a chute, serving area,feeding dish, or a combination thereof may be referred to as one or morechute sensing devices, chute sensors, or both. One or more sensingdevices may be located above a chute, serving area, serving wall, outerdish, feeding dish, or a combination thereof. One or more sensingdevices may be affixed to a drive source, drive shaft, adapter shaft, ora combination thereof. One or more sensing devices may be part of acontrol board. One or more sensing devices which sense the presence offood, or lack thereof, within the chute, serving area, serving wall,outer dish, feeding dish, or a combination thereof may be referred to asone or more chute sensors. One or more sensors may be configured totransmit one or more signals to one or more control boards, processors,controllers, communication modules, computing devices, or a combinationthereof based on food being sensed. One or more signals from one or moresensors may be converted into one or more status signals by the one ormore control boards, controllers, processors, communication modules,computing devices, or any combination thereof. The one or more sensorsmay be any type of sensor suitable for detecting, monitoring, or both alevel of food within a hopper, a chute, a serving area, or a combinationthereof. One or more sensors may include one or more mass sensors,capacitive sensors, infrared sensors, laser sensors, ultrasonic sensors,membrane sensors, radio frequency (RF) admittance sensors, conductivesensors, optical interface sensors, microwave sensors, the like, orcombination thereof. Based on a signal from one or more sensors, acontrol panel may provide a status to user; a drive source may initiaterotation and dispensing of food by a dispenser; rotation of a drivesource or dispenser may be prevented; or any combination thereof. Forexample, if a chute dispenser senses a feeding dish, serving wall, orchute is empty of food, a signal from the one or more chute dispensersmay initiate dispensing of food by a drive source and dispenser. Asanother example, if a chute sensor senses food located within a chute, asignal from a chute sensor may prevent rotation of a dispenser. Thepresence of food within the chute may mean that another serving of foodin the feeding dish is not necessary as previous servings may not haveyet been consumed. As a further example, if one or more sensors detectfood in the hopper below a certain volume, the absence of food in thehopper, or both, a signal from the one or more sensors may result in oneor more status indicators informing a user to refill the hopper.

The feeder may include a dispenser cradle. The dispenser cradle mayfunction to house a dispenser, cooperate with a dispenser and/or chuteto guide food toward a serving area, or a combination of both. Adispenser cradle may be formed in any portion of the housing suitablefor housing a dispenser and allowing the dispenser to move food from ahopper portion to a serving area. A dispenser cradle may be formed in achamber portion, intermediate portion, base portion, or any combinationthereof. A dispenser cradle may be formed as part of an upper shell,lower shell, or both. A dispenser cradle may be located in a front,rear, side, or a combination thereof of the feeder. For example, adispenser cradle may be formed as part of an upper shell in a rear ofthe feeder. The dispenser cradle may extend from the upper shell towarda bottom of the feeder. The dispenser may include a dispenser therein.The dispenser cradle may have any suitable shape for retaining adispenser. The dispenser cradle may have a cross-sectional shape whichmay be circular, elliptical, square, triangular, trapezoidal, the like,or any combination thereof. The dispenser cradle may have a shaperesembling a half circle. The dispenser cradle may have a shapereciprocal with at least a portion of a dispenser, such as the rockerbody. A cross-section of the dispenser cradle may be taken perpendicularto a longitudinal axis of the dispenser, parallel to a longitudinal axisof the feeder, parallel to a transverse plane of the feeder, or acombination thereof. The dispenser cradle may be formed by the surfaceof the upper wall. The dispenser cradle may be formed by a portion ofthe upper wall which slopes at a different angle than the rest of theupper wall. The dispenser cradle may be formed by one or more portionsof the upper wall referred to as the serving wall. One or more servingwalls may angle downward to form the cross-sectional shape of thedispenser cradle. One or more serving walls may be opposite each other.One or more serving walls may have a general C or U shape. The servingwall may transition into a chute. Opposing serving walls may bedistanced from one another at a lower end of the dispenser cradle. Aspace between serving walls may be referred to as a dispenser outlet.The dispenser outlet may be where a dispenser cradle is in fluidcommunication with and transitions to a chute. The chute may be formedon a surface of the upper shell opposite the sensing tower.

The feeder may include a chute. A chute may function to guide food froma chamber portion, hopper, dispenser, or a combination thereof to a baseportion, feeding cavity, serving area, feeding dish, or a combinationthereof. A chute may be in communication with a chamber portion. Adispenser may be located between a chute and a chamber portion. Thechute may receive food from a dispenser. The chute may be attached to orpart of a chamber portion, intermediate portion, base portion, or anycombination thereof. The chute may be affixed to or integrally formedwith one or more shells of an intermediate portion. The chute may beintegral with an upper shell. The chute may extend from a dispensercradle, one or more serving walls, or both. The chute may be configuredto guide food toward a serving area. The chute may guide food toward theserving area with the aid of gravity. The chute may include a chutewall, a plurality of side walls, and a chute opening. The chute wall maybe located between two opposing side walls. The chute wall may facetoward the serving area. The opposing side walls may extend from thechute wall. The opposing side walls may be generally orthogonal to thechute wall. The chute wall and opposing side walls may form a chutechannel. The chute channel may have any suitable shape for having foodpass therethrough, such as a C-channel. At the end of the chute channelis a chute opening. After being dispensed from a dispenser, the food maytravel through the chute channel and the chute opening into the servingarea. The chute may be at least partially located above the servingarea. The chute may be in contact with a portion of the serving area.The chute may be in contact with the serving wall. The chute may abutwith and/or overlap to the serving wall. For example, a chute wall mayoverlap the serving wall so that food may travel via the chute wall andcontinue via the serving wall. The chute may project into the feedingcavity. The chute may be angled at any angle suitable for the food toovercome friction between the food and one or more surfaces of thechute. The chute may be angled toward the serving area, downward to abottom of the feeder, toward the front of the feeder, away from therear, or any combination thereof. The chute may be angled at a same ordifferent angle as a serving wall, outer dish, feeding dish, or acombination thereof. For example, a chute wall may be located atsubstantially the same angle as a serving wall. A chute may be angled atabout 90 degrees or greater, 95 degrees or greater, or even about 100degrees or greater relative to the longitudinal axis, transverse plane,or both of the feeder. The angle may be about 150 degrees or less, about140 degrees or less, about 130 degrees or less, or even about 120degrees or less relative to the longitudinal axis, transverse plane, orboth of the feeder. The angle may be the angle formed between an upwardfacing surface (e.g., serving wall, dish base wall) of a portion of theserving area and the longitudinal axis, transverse plane, or both. Theangle may be the angle facing toward a front of the feeder. The chutemay extend from the rear of the upper shell toward a lower shell, undera lower shell, under a dispenser cradle, under a dispenser, or acombination thereof

The intermediate portion may include a lower shell. The lower shell mayfunction to cooperate with an upper shell to form a mechanism cavitysuitable for housing one or more components therein. The lower shell maywork with a base portion to form a feeding cavity. The lower shell mayhave any suitable shape for forming a mechanism cavity with an uppershell. The lower shell may be affixed to or integral with the uppershell. The lower shell may be located between a base portion and anupper shell. The lower shell may have one or more portions with a slopesteeper than a slope of the upper shell. The slope may allow for amechanism cavity to be formed large enough for one or more components tofit therein. The lower shell may resemble a partial bowl shape. Thelower shell may have a cross-sectional shape resembling an L-shape,C-shape, the like, or a combination thereof. The cross-sectional shapemay be taken parallel to a median plane. The lower shell may slopedownward from a hopper at the front of a feeder, a control panel, orboth toward a food chute, serving area, or both. The lower shell mayform or include a control wall. The control wall may help control theflow of food from the chute toward a feeding dish. The control wall mayreduce a height of the overall flow of food from the chute so that theflow of food may be delivered in a controlled manner into the feedingdish. The control wall may project downward, toward the base portion,toward a bottom of the feeder, toward the serving area, toward theserving wall, or a combination thereof. The control wall may be locatedin front of (e.g., closer to a front of the feeder) a chute. The controlwall may be parallel, perpendicular, or any angle therebetween relativeto a longitudinal axis, transverse plane, median plane, or a combinationthereof. For example, the control wall may project downward toward theserving area substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis andtransverse plane.

The feeder may include a control panel. The control panel may functionto allow a user to select one or more functions and/or operations of thefeeder, provide a user with a status of the feeder, or any combinationthereof. The control panel may be affixed to or part of any portion ofthe housing. The control panel may be located on the base portion,intermediate portion, chamber portion, or any combination thereof. Thecontrol panel may be located on a front of both an upper shell and lowershell. The upper shell and lower shell may have a control panel housingformed therein. The control panel housing may be a portion of the upperand lower shells reciprocal with at least a periphery of a portion of acontrol panel, such as a bezel. The control panel may be located on afront, rear, side, top, or any combination thereof of the feeder. Thecontrol panel may include one or more selection interfaces, statusindicators, a bezel, or any combination thereof. A bezel may retain acontrol panel in place relative to the housing. A bezel may provide anappealing aesthetic of the control panel. The bezel may be retained ontothe housing by one or more fasteners, a snap fit, a friction fit, anadhesive, the like, or any combination thereof. The bezel may include abezel opening therethrough. The bezel opening may provide access to oneor more selection interfaces, status indicators, or both.

The feeder may include a selection interface. The selection interfacemay be configured to allow a user to initiate, pause, and/or stop one ormore operations of the feeder. One or more operations may includeactivation of rotation of a dispenser, stopping rotation of a dispenser,powering the feeder on, powering the feeder off, the like, or acombination thereof. A selection interface may be in electricalcommunication with a dispenser, power source, drive source, or acombination thereof. The selection interface may include one or morebuttons, switches, levers, knobs, the like, or a combination thereof.The selection interface may be in electrical communication with one ormore status indicators, processors, controllers, communication modules,a drive source, the like, or any combination thereof. The selectioninterface may include one or more of a power switch, dispense button,pause or stop button, the like, or a combination thereof. A power switchmay turn the feeder on, off, or both. A dispense button may cause adrive source to drive a dispenser into one or more dispensing positionsfrom one or more resting positions. A pause or stop button may cause adrive source to return a drive dispenser to a resting position from adispensing position, stop a dispenser from moving to a dispensingposition and/or resting position, or a combination thereof. Selectionfrom the status interface may result in a status indicator lighting up,turning off, displaying information on a screen, or a combinationthereof. The feeder may include one or more status indicators. The oneor more status indicators may function to inform a user of a status,function, operation, or a combination thereof of the feeder. The one ormore status indicators may include one or more lights, screens, thelike, or both. The one or more status indicators may be in electricalcommunication with a selection interface, one or more sensors, acontroller, a processor, a communication module, the like, or acombination thereof.

The feeder may include one or more controllers. The one or morecontrollers may function to receive one or more signals, transmit one ormore signals, control operations of one or more components of thefeeder, or a combination thereof. The one or more controllers may be incommunication with one or more sensors, selection interfaces, statusindicators, drive sources, power sources, or a combination thereof. Theone or more controllers may be adapted to receive one or more signalsfrom the one or more sensors. The one or more controllers may be incommunication with one or more sensors. The one or more controllers maybe in electrical communication with one or more sensors. The one or morecontrollers may interpret one or more signals from one or more sensorsas one or more status signals. The one or more controllers may residewithin or be in communication with the feeder. The one or morecontrollers may be located within a base portion, intermediate portion,chamber portion, or any combination thereof. The one or more controllersmay include one or more controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors,or a combination thereof. The one or more controllers may be incommunication with and/or include one or more communication modules. Theone or more controllers may include one or more processors.

The feeder may include one or more communication modules. The one ormore communication modules may allow for the litter device to receiveand/or transmit one or more signals from one or more computing devices,be integrated into a network, or both. The one or more communicationmodules may have any configuration which may allow for one or more datasignals from one or more controllers to be relayed to one or more othercontrollers, communication modules, networks, computing devices,processors, the like, or any combination thereof located external of thefeeder. The one or more communication modules may include one or morewired communication modules, wireless communication modules, or both. Awired communication module may be any module capable of transmittingand/or receiving one or more data signals via a wired connection. One ormore wired communication modules may communicate via one or morenetworks via a direct, wired connection. A wired connection may includea local area network wired connection by an ethernet port. A wiredcommunication module may include a PC Card, PCMCIA card, PCI card, thelike, or any combination thereof. A wireless communication module mayinclude any module capable of transmitting and/or receiving one or moredata signals via a wireless connection. One or more wirelesscommunication modules may communicate via one or more networks via awireless connection. One or more wireless communication modules mayinclude a Wi-Fi transmitter, a Bluetooth transmitter, an infraredtransmitter, a radio frequency transmitter, an IEEE 802.15.4 complianttransmitter, the like, or any combination thereof. A Wi-Fi transmittermay be any transmitter complaint with IEEE 802.11. A communicationmodule may be single band, multi-band (e.g., dual band), or both. Acommunication module may operate at 2.4 Ghz, 5 Ghz, the like, or acombination thereof. A communication module may communicate with one ormore other communication modules, computing devices, processors, or anycombination thereof directly; via one or more networks, or both; or anycombination thereof.

The feeder may include a drive source. A drive source may function toapply one or more dispensing forces, apply one or more return forces,move a dispenser between one or more resting positions to one or moredispensing positions, or a combination thereof. A drive source may be inrotational communication with a drive shaft, adapter shaft, dispenser,or any combination thereof. A drive source may drive a drive shaft,adapter shaft, dispenser, or a combination thereof in one or moredispensing directions, one or more return directions, or a combinationthereof. The drive source may apply a first direction of torque, asecond direction of torque, or both to a drive shaft, adapter shaft,dispenser, or a combination thereof. A first direction of torque may bein a first dispensing direction, second return direction, or both. Afirst direction of torque may result in a dispenser moving from aresting position to a first dispensing position, from a seconddispensing position to a resting position, or both. A second directionof torque may be in a second dispensing direction, first returndirection, or both. A second direction of torque may result in adispenser moving from a resting position to a second dispensingposition, from a first dispensing position to a resting position orboth. A drive source may be a motor or other power supply. The drivesource may be an electronic motor, pneumatic power supply, hydraulicpower supply, another power supply, or a combination thereof. The drivesource may be in electronic communication with one or more powersources.

The feeder may include a drive shaft. A drive shaft may function totransfer torque from a drive source to an adapter shaft, dispenser, orboth. The drive shaft may be in rotatable communication with a drivesource, adapter shaft, dispenser, or any combination thereof. The drivesource may rotate the drive shaft. By applying a first direction oftorque, the drive shaft may rotation in a first direction. By applying asecond direction of torque, the drive shaft may rotate in a seconddirection. The drive shaft may pass through dispenser, adapter shaft, orboth. The drive shaft may be directly or indirectly engaged with thedispenser. The drive shaft may be engaged with an adapter shaft. Forexample, the drive shaft may be rotationally engaged with and receivedwithin a hollow interior of an adapter shaft and the adapter shaft maybe rotationally engaged with and received within a shaft cavity of adispenser. The drive shaft may have a friction fit with the adaptershaft. The drive shaft may have one or more engagement features whichengage one or more mating engagement features of an adapter shaft,dispenser, or both. For example, the drive shaft may have one or moresplines which mesh within one or more grooves of the adapter shaft,dispenser, or both. The drive shaft may extend through a control boardof the feeder. While the drive shaft passes through the control board,the control board may be free from being rotationally engaged with thedrive shaft, drive source, adapter shaft, dispenser, or a combinationthereof. For example, the drive shaft may have an outer diameter lessthan an inner diameter of an opening of the control board. The driveshaft may be located in the chamber portion, intermediate portion, baseportion, or a combination thereof. The drive shaft may be located in asame or different portion of a housing as a drive source. The driveshaft may be located in a mechanism cavity of the housing, dispensercradle, or both.

The feeder may include an adapter shaft. An adapter shaft may functionto transfer torque from a drive source, a drive shaft, or both to adispenser. The adapter shaft may be in rotatable communication with adrive source, drive shaft, dispenser, or a combination thereof. Theadapter shaft may receive a first direction of torque, second directionof torque, or both from a drive source, drive shaft, or both. Theadapter shaft may transfer a first direction of torque, second directionof torque, or both to a dispenser from drive source, drive shaft,dispenser, or a combination thereof. The adapter shaft may receive atleast a portion of the drive shaft. The drive shaft may be co-axial oroff-center relative to the adapter shaft. The drive shaft may be locatedabout an exterior of the adapter shaft or the drive shaft may bereceived within at least a partially hollow interior of the adaptershaft. The adapter shaft may be located within or about a portion of thedispenser. The adapter shaft may be at least partially located within ashaft cavity of the dispenser. The adapter shaft may be centered oroff-centered relative to the shaft cavity. The adapter shaft may haveone or more engagement features for rotationally engaging, mating,and/or meshing with a drive shaft, dispenser, or both. One or moreengagement features may include an outer and/or inner diameter whichresults in a friction fit; one or more splines, grooves, or both aboutan exterior surface, interior surface, or both; or any combinationthereof. One or more engagement features may also include across-sectional shape of the adapter shaft which results in rotationalengagement. A cross-sectional shape may take the form of a triangle,square, oval, rectangle, D-shape, B-shape, V-Shape, the like, or anycombination thereof. A cross-sectional shape may refer to across-section of an adapter shaft taken parallel to a median plane ofthe feeder, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the transfer shaft,or both. The adapter shaft may be located adjacent to a control board.The adapter shaft may include a disc surface. The disc surface mayproject like a flange from the adapter shaft. The disc surface mayproject in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis ofthe transfer shaft. The disc surface may have a cross-sectional shapewhich is square, rectangular, elliptical, circular, the like, or anycombination thereof. A cross-sectional shape of the disc surface may betaken along a cross-section generally perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis of the transfer shaft. The disc surface may be adjacent to acontrol board, dispenser, or both. The disc surface may be locatedbetween a control board, drive source, or both and a dispenser. Theadapter shaft may be free of being rotationally engaged with or evenaffixed to the control board. The adapter shaft may be located in thechamber portion, intermediate portion, base portion, or a combinationthereof. The adapter shaft may be located in a same or different portionof a housing as a drive source, adapter shaft, dispenser, or acombination thereof. The adapter shaft may be located in a mechanismcavity of the housing, a dispenser cradle, or both.

The feeder may include a dispenser. The dispenser may function tosegregate a portion of the food from the chamber portion, transfer aportion of the food from a chamber portion to a base portion, or both.The dispenser may be particularly advantageous with food which is agranular material. The dispenser may be located in any portion of thehousing suitable for segregating food from a chamber portion andtransferring food to a serving area. The dispenser may be locatedbetween a chamber portion and a base portion, within an intermediateportion, or both. The dispenser may be located within a dispensercradle. The dispenser may be configured to dispense a predeterminedamount of food from the chamber portion to the serving area. Thedispenser may include a rocker body, one or more fins, a fin channel, ashaft cavity, or a combination thereof. The dispenser may berotationally engaged with a drive source, drive shaft, adapter shaft, orany combination thereof. The dispenser may be configured to rotate in aplurality of directions, such as a first direction and a seconddirection. Rotation in a first direction may move the dispenser from aresting position to a first dispensing position, from a seconddispensing position to a resting position, or both. Rotation in a seconddirection may move the dispenser from a resting position to a seconddispensing position, from a first dispensing position to a restingposition or both. A rocker body of the dispenser may receive a driveshaft, adapter shaft, or both therethrough.

The dispenser may include a rocker body. The rocker body may function torotationally engage the dispenser with a drive source, rotate one ormore fins, cooperate with one or more fins to create a serving cavity,cooperate with one or more fins and/or hopper surfaces to allow and/orrestrict access of food into a chute, or any combination thereof. Therocker body may be located between a chute and a hopper. The rocker bodymay be located within a dispenser cradle. The rocker body may have anysuitable shape for cooperating a drive source, one or more fins, ahopper, a chute, or a combination thereof. A rocker body may have atleast a partially cylindrical shape. A rocker body may have shaperesembling about half of a cylinder. A rocker body may have across-section which may be D-Shaped, half-moon shaped, W-shaped, thelike, or a combination thereof. A cross-section may be takenperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the dispenser, parallel to alongitudinal axis of the feeder, parallel to a transverse plane of thefeeder, or a combination thereof. A cross-section may substantiallyresemble a D-Shape or half-moon. A rocker body may have a size suitablefor restricting entry into a dispenser cradle, only allowing foodlocated within a serving area to pass through the dispenser cradle, orboth. The rocker body may have a width about equal to or smaller than awidth of a dispenser cradle. The width of the rocker body may stillallow the rocker body to rotate within the dispenser cradle. Adifference between the width of the rocker body and the dispenser cradleis smaller than a typical size of a piece of granular food material. Thewidth of the rocker body and the dispenser may be measured as an overallwidth (e.g., diameter). The width of a rocker body may be between about80% or greater, 90% or greater, to about 95% or greater of the width ofa dispenser cradle. The width of the rocker body may be about 100% orless, about 98% or less, or even about 96% or less than a width of adispenser cradle. A rocker body may be hollow, partially hollow, solid,or a combination thereof. The rocker body may be substantially solidalong its length. The rocker body may have a hollow portion. The rockerbody may have a shaft cavity formed therein. The shaft cavity may extendfrom one end partially or completely to the opposing end of the rockerbody. The shaft cavity may be generally centered with the overalldispenser. The shaft cavity may be offset relative to the rocker body.The shaft cavity may be offset and distanced away from the exteriorsurface of the rocker body. The shaft cavity may be offset and distancedcloser to a fin, fin channel, or both than to an exterior surface of therocker body. The shaft cavity may include a drive shaft, adapter shaft,or both located therein. The shaft cavity may have a shape reciprocalwith that of an adapter shaft, drive shaft, or both. The shaft cavitymay include one or more engagement features which engage with, mesh, ormatch with one or more engagement features of a drive shaft, adaptershaft, or both. The rocker body may be configured to at least partiallyrotate in one or more directions, such as when driven by a drive source,drive shaft, adapter shaft, or a combination thereof. One or moredirections may be opposing directions, a first direction, a seconddirection, or a combination thereof. A rotational axis of the rockerbody may be co-axial, concentric, or off-centered with a rotational axisof a drive source, drive shaft, adapter shaft, or any combinationthereof. A rotational axis may extend through the shaft cavity. Therocker body may have one or more fins projecting therefrom. The one ormore fins may be integral with or separate from the rocker body. Therocker body may have one or more fin engagement features. The one ormore fin engagement features may function to mate with one or more fins.The one or more fin engagement features may include one or morechannels, slots, brackets, hinges, the like, or any combination thereoffor allowing attachment of one or more fins to the rocker body. Achannel may be formed along at least a portion of or all of a length ofthe rocker body. The channel may be formed along an exterior surface ofthe rocker body closest to a shaft cavity. The channel may follow theshaft cavity across a length of the rocker body (e.g., parallel to). Thechannel may have any suitable shape for receiving and/or engaging withan end of a fin. The channel may have a shape substantially reciprocalwith a portion of a fin, such as an attached end of the fin. The channelmay be V-Shaped, T-Shaped, the like, or a combination thereof. Forexample, the rocker body may include a fin channel which is a T-shapedslot along a length of the rocker body. The fin channel may receive anattached end of the fin therein.

The dispenser may include one or more fins. The one or more fins mayfunction to segregate a portion of food from a chamber portion, prevententry of food into a dispenser, cooperate with a rocker body to create aserving cavity, or a combination thereof. The one or more fins mayfunction with a portion of a rocker body to form a predetermined servingsize within a serving cavity. The one or more fins may include a singlefin or a plurality of fins. A single fin may be advantageous in allowinga dispenser to dispense food without having to rotate a full 365degrees. A single fin may be advantageous by only having one flexiblecomponent relative to the rocker body with less fins which may bedamaged or jammed over time and use of the feeder. A single fin may bebeneficial in allowing a dispenser to rotate (e.g., rock) back and forthbetween first and second dispensing positions. The one or more fins maybe rigid, semi-rigid, semi-flexible, flexible, or a combination thereof.The one or more fins may be flexible along a length of the one or morefins. Flexibility of the fin may be advantageous in allowing a fin toscrape along a serving wall of a dispenser cradle while transitioning toa dispensing position, pushing food toward a chute while moving toward adispensing position, or both. A flexible fin may also prevent jamming ofthe dispenser while rotating to and from one or more dispensingpositions. One or more fins may be affixed to or integral with a rockerbody. Rotational movement of the rocker body results in rotation of oneor more fins about the same rotational axis. One or more fins may beaffixed to the rocker body at an attached end. The attached end may havea shape reciprocal with an engagement feature of the rocker body. Theattached end may have a shape reciprocal with a channel of the rockerbody. For example, the attached end may be in the shape of a “T”. Theattached end may reside with and be engaged in a fin channel of therocker body. Opposite the attached end of a fin is a free end. A fin mayalso be hingedly attached to a rocker body. A fin may be hinged, static,or both relative to the rocker body. Static may refer to the fin movingwith the rocker body while still maintaining flexibility. A height of afin may be the distance from the attached end to the free end. Theheight of the fin may allow the free end to be in contact with or freeof contact with a serving wall, a portion of a hopper, a portion of ashell, a portion of a chute, or a combination thereof. The height of thefin may be about equal to or less than half a width, a radius, or bothof a rocker body, dispenser, serving wall cross-section, or acombination thereof. A fin may have a length. The length of a fin may bemeasured as a distance from an end of the fin closest to a rear of thefeeder to an end of the fin closest to the front of the feeder,substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the dispenser, or both.The length of the fin may be greater than, about equal to, or less thana length of the rocker body. A fin together with a rocker body maydefine one or more serving cavities.

The one or more fins may be continuous or discontinuous. Continuous maymean a fin is a one-piece material from end to end without anyinterruptions (e.g., cut-outs or notches). Discontinuous may mean a finhas one or more cut-outs, notches, slits, the like, or a combinationthereof. A fin may have one or more slits. The one or more slits mayprovide flexibility to a fin while allowing the material to still besufficiently strong to push food from a cavity (e.g., hopper) toward achute. The one or more slits may aid in preventing damage to the fin,jamming of the fin during rotation between dispensing positions, orboth. The one or more slits may extend partially, completely, or bothfrom a free end to an attached end, rotational axis, dispenser body, aheight of a fin, or a combination thereof. A height of a fin may bemeasured as the distance from a free end to an attached end of a fin.The one or more slits may extend about 10% or more, about 25% or more,about 50% or more, or even about 60% or more of a height of a fin. Theone or more slits may extend about 100% or less, about 90% or less,about 85% or less, or even about 80% or less of a height of a fin. Forexample, a fin may extend from a free end toward an attached end forabout 60% to about 90% of a height of a fin. For an example, a fin mayextend from a free end toward an attached end for about 70% to about 80%of a height of a fin. The one or slits may be located along any lengthof a fin. A length may be the distance of the fin parallel to arotational axis, from a front of a feeder to a rear, along a length ofthe attached end, along a length of a free end, or any combinationthereof. One or more slits may be located at about one quarter thelength, one third the length, one half the length, two thirds the length½ the length, two thirds the length, any distance therebetween, or acombination thereof. For example, one slit may be located about halfwaydown the length of the fin extending from the free end toward theattached end. The one or more slits may have a width. The width of aslit may be measured along a length of a fin (e.g., parallel to alength). The width of a slit may be about 1% or greater, 2% or greater,3% or greater, 4% or greater, or even about 5% or greater than a totallength of a fin. The width of a slit may be about 15% or less, about 12%or less, about 10% or less, or even about 8% or less than a total lengthof a fin. The width of a slit may be smaller than or equal in size to atypical pet food size. By having the width of the slit smaller than agranule of pet food, the slit does not allow for food to pass throughand thus remain in the hopper cavity as opposed to being pushed toward achute and serving cavity.

A dispenser may include one or more serving cavities. One or moreserving cavities may function to define a serving size of food to bedelivered from a hopper to a serving area. A serving cavity may be a gapformed between a rocker body and a fin. A fin may be angled from anadjacent surface of a rocker body to form the serving cavity. The anglebetween the fin and the adjacent surface of the rocker body may beacute, perpendicular, or obtuse. The angle between the fin and theadjacent surface of the rocker body may be about 30 degrees or greater,about 50 degrees or greater, about 60 degrees or greater, or even about65 degrees or greater. The angle between the fin and the adjacentsurface of the rocker body may be about 110 degrees or less, about 90degrees or less, about 80 degrees or less, or even about 75 degrees orless. The angle between the fin and the rocker body may be selected toresult in a specific serving volume of food dispensed by the dispenserper each dispensing rotation. The serving cavity may have across-sectional shape which is substantially V-shaped, C-shaped,U-shaped, triangular, trapezoidal, the like, or a combination thereof. Across-section may be taken substantially perpendicular to a rotationalaxis. The cross-sectional shape may be along a portion of or along anentire length of a dispenser, rocker body, fin, or a combinationthereof. The serving cavity, when rotated into a dispensing position,such that the serving cavity is closed off by a serving wall, may have aserving volume. The serving volume may be any volume adequate forfeeding an animal. The serving volume may be about 0.0625 cups orgreater, about 0.125 cups or greater, about 0.25 cups or greater, oreven about 0.5 cups or greater. The serving volume may be about 2 cupsor less, about 1.5 cups or less, or even 1 cup or less.

The dispenser may be configured to move between one or more dispensingpositions and one or more resting positions. The one or more dispensingpositions may function to deliver food from a chamber interior to aserving area, block additional food from entering a dispenser, or both.The one or more resting positions may function to prevent food frombeing delivered from a chamber interior to a serving area. The one ormore dispensing positions may include a single dispensing position or aplurality of dispensing positions. A plurality of dispensing positionsmay include two or more dispensing positions. Two or more dispensingpositions may include a first dispensing position and a seconddispensing position. A dispenser may rotate from a resting position toone or more dispensing positions. A dispenser may rotate about arotational axis. Rotation of a dispenser may be initiated by a drivesource. A dispenser may rotate in a first direction, second direction,or both. A first direction may be clockwise (i.e., when observing from arear of the feeder). A second direction may be opposite a firstdirection. A second direction may be counterclockwise (i.e., whenobserving from a rear of a feeder). A dispenser may rotate about 60degrees or greater, about 70 degrees or greater, about 80 degrees orgreater, about 90 degrees or greater, or even about 100 degrees orgreater from a resting position to a dispensing position. A dispensermay rotate about 170 degrees or less, about 160 degrees or less, about150 degrees or less, about 140 degrees or less, or even about 130degrees or less from a resting position to a dispensing position. Thedispenser may return to a resting position from a dispensing position.The dispenser may not move from one dispensing position to another,without first returning to a resting position. In the resting position,the rocker body may block a pathway from the hopper to the chute. In theresting position, the fin may project into the hopper, into the chamberinterior, outside of a dispenser cradle, away from the chute, or acombination thereof. In the resting position, the fin may project intothe hopper at an angle generally parallel with a longitudinal axis ofthe feeder. In a resting position, food located within the hopper andclosest to the dispenser may rest on the dispenser, on the rocker body,between the rocker body and the fin, in one or more serving cavities, ora combination thereof In a dispensing position, the dispenser body maybe rotated such that the fin rotates away from the hopper and toward thechute. In a dispensing position, the serving cavity may be rotated to bein direct communication with the chute. In a dispensing position, therocker body may be located at least partially over the dispenser cradle,block at least some food from entering the dispenser cradle, or both. Ina dispensing position, a fin may be located within the dispenser cradle,in contact with a serving wall, or both. Rotation from a restingposition to a dispensing position results in segregation of food withina serving cavity from food within the hopper. As the fin rotates towardthe serving wall, toward the chute, passes by a bottom wall of thehopper, and/or contacts the serving wall, the fin segregates the food ofthe serving cavity from the food in the hopper. As the dispenser rotatesinto a dispensing position, the fin further blocks additional food fromentering into the serving cavity. In a dispensing position, food locatedwithin the serving cavity falls into the chute via gravity, forceapplied by the fin, or both. After dispensing food into the chute, thedispenser is rotated back to a resting position. To return back to theresting position, the dispenser is rotated by the drive source in anopposing direction. For example, if the dispenser was rotated in thefirst direction toward the chute and into a first dispensing position,the dispenser is rotated in the second and opposing direction away fromthe chute and back into the resting position. While transitioning from adispensing position to a resting position, a fin may or may neversurpass over the chute.

The feeder may be comprised of one or more materials. The one or morematerials may be any material suitable for being shaped (e.g., molded)into the separate components of the feeder, having food located thereonand then consumed, or both. One or more materials of the housing may becomprised of a polymeric system. The polymeric system may be athermoplastic or a thermoset material. The polymeric system may be onesuitable for molding into the shape or shapes of each portion of thehousing. Polymeric systems may include polyolefins, styrenics,acrylates, acrylonitriles, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS), and blends thereof. Such materials may bemodified with a number of additives such as fillers, elastomers, fireretardants, stabilizers, and the like. The portions of the housing maybe prepared by any process capable of forming the materials into thedesired shapes of the housing and able to perform the necessaryfunctions. Portions of the housing may be formed by injection molding,reaction injection molding, thermoforming, the like, or any combinationthereof. Some portion of the housing may be opaque, transparent, or acombination of both. For example, a hopper may be transparent to visiblysee the food within the hopper, the movement of the dispenser in thedispenser cradle, or both. One or more other materials of the feeder maybe comprised of one or more flexible materials. One or more fins may becomprised of one or more flexible materials or may be comprised ofmaterials suitable for the housing. One or more fins may be comprised ofany suitable material capable of deflection, having elastomericproperties, or both. One or more fins may be comprised of one or moreelastomers having viscoelasticity, one or more rubbers, or both.Exemplary flexible materials may include polyisoprene, polybutadiene,polyisobutylene, polyurethane, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or acombination thereof.

The present disclosure relates to a method of dispensing food from afeeder. The feeder may be a feeder according to the teachings herein.The method may include moving a dispenser from one or more restingpositions to one or more, or two or more, dispensing positions. Themethod may include moving a dispenser from a resting position to a firstdispensing position, a resting position to a second dispensing position,or both. Movement from one or more resting positions to one or moredispensing positions may be triggered by a user initiating dispensing;one or more sensing devices sensing the presence, lack of presence,and/or a certain level of food within a chute, serving area, servingwall, outer dish, feeding dish, or a combination; or any combinationthereof. Movement may be prevented by a user preventing movement of adispenser; a certain level of food being detected by one or more sensingdevices (e.g., chute sensors) in a chute, feeding dish, serving area,serving wall, outer dish; or a combination thereof. As described herein,the components of the feeder according to the teachings herein maycooperate together to provide for the dispensing of food.

Illustrative Embodiments

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a feeder 10. The feeder10 includes a housing 12. The housing 12 includes a base portion 14,intermediate portion 20, and a chamber portion 16. The chamber portion16 includes a hopper 18. A cover 32 rests atop the hopper 18. The cover32 includes a handle 34. The handle 34 is formed by indentations 36within the cover 32. The cover 32 includes an opening 104. A sensingtower 84 extends through the opening 104. Located adjacent to thechamber portion 16 is the intermediate portion 20. The intermediateportion 20 includes a control panel 40. The control panel 40 includes aselection interface 42 and status indicators 44. Located between theintermediate portion 20 and the base portion 14 is a feeding cavity 22.The base portion 16 includes a serving area 24. The serving area 24includes a feeding dish 26. Located above the serving area 24 is a chute28. The chute 28 projects into the feeding cavity 22. The chute 28allows for food 94 (not shown) to transfer from within the hopper 18 tothe serving area 24 via a chute opening 30.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of a feeder 10 without achamber portion 16. The feeder 10 includes an intermediate portion 20.The intermediate portion 20 includes an upper shell 20 b. Theintermediate portion 20 tapers downward from a control panel 40 toward asensing tower 84. The sensing tower 84 extends upward and away from abase portion 14. The sensing tower 84 has conical portion 106 whichtapers upward toward a cylindrical portion 108. The sensing tower 84includes a cap 110. The cap 110 is located on the cylindrical portion108. The intermediate portion 20 includes a dispenser cradle 60 formedtherein. A dispenser 70 is located within the dispenser cradle 60. Thedispenser 70 includes a rocker body 72 and fin 74.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of a feeder 10. The feeder 10includes a cover 32. The cover 32 has a handle 34. The handle 34 isformed by opposing indentations 36. The indentations 36 havecross-sectional shapes which are substantially “D-Shaped”. Between theindentations 36 is a handle body 46. An opening 104 is formed within thehandle body 46. The sensing tower 84 extends through the opening 104.The feeder 10 includes a front 48 opposing a rear 50. At the front 48,the serving area 24, including the feeding dish 26, projects beyond thehousing 12.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom plan view of a feeder 10. The base portion14 includes a bottom 52. The bottom 52 includes a plurality of feet 54.The feet 54 are spaced near the periphery of the bottom 52. The feet 54are spaced about a bottom cap 56. The bottom cap 56 covers a bottomopening 58 in the base portion 14.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevation view of a feeder 10. The feeder 10includes a housing 12. The housing 12 includes a base portion 14,intermediate portion 20, and chamber portion 16. The base portion 14includes a bottom 52. Projecting from the bottom 52 are a plurality offeet 54. Opposite the bottom 52 is a cover 32. Extending along a lengthof the feeder 10, from the bottom 52 to the cover 32 is a longitudinalaxis A_(L). The longitudinal axis A_(L) is located between a front 48and a rear 50 of the feeder 10. A serving area 24 projects beyond thehousing 12 at the front 48. The serving area 24 includes a feeding dish26. The serving area 24 and feeding dish 26 are tilted at an angle αrelative to the longitudinal axis A_(L) and transverse plane P_(T). Theangle α

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear elevation view of a feeder 10. The feeder 10includes a housing 12. The housing 12 includes a base portion 14,intermediate portion 20, and chamber portion 16. The chamber portion 16includes a hopper 18 and a cover 32. The intermediate portion includes adispenser cradle 60. The hopper 18 includes a dispenser cover 122.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front elevation view of a feeder 10. The feeder 10includes a housing 12. The housing 12 is substantially symmetrical abouta median plane PM. The median plane PM is parallel to and includes thelongitudinal axis A_(L) lying therein. The feeder 10 includes a baseportion 14, an intermediate portion 20, and a chamber portion 16. Thechamber portion 16 includes a hopper 18. The intermediate portion 20 islocated between the chamber portion 16 and the base portion 14. On thefront 48 of the feeder 10 is a control panel 40. The control panel 40includes a selection interface 42 and status indicators 44. A feedingcavity 22 is formed within the base portion 14. The feeding cavity 22 isthe cavity formed between the intermediate portion 20 and the baseportion 14. The bottom of the feeding cavity 22 is defined by theserving area 24. Angled toward the serving area 24 from the rear 50 (notshown) is a chute 28 having a chute opening 30.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section of feeder 10 taken along section B-Bof FIG. 7. The feeder 10 includes a housing 12. The housing 12 includesa base portion 14. The base portion 14 includes a bottom opening 58covered by a bottom cap 56. The bottom opening 58 provides access to abase receptacle 64. The base receptacle 64 is formed as a depression inthe base portion 14 extending upward toward the chamber portion 16.Located above the base receptacle 64 is a portion of the serving area24. The serving area includes an angled, serving wall 65. The servingwall 65 is tilted at an angle β relative to the longitudinal axis A_(L)and a transverse plane P_(T). The transverse plane P_(T) is generallyparallel to and includes the longitudinal axis A_(L) lying therein. Theserving wall 65 is angled toward the front 48 of the feeder 10. Theserving wall 65 is angled toward the bottom 52 of the housing 12. Theserving wall 65 is sloped toward an outer dish 67 of the serving area24. The serving wall 65 extends to have an integrated end 65 a. Theintegrated end 65 a extends over the outer dish 67, a portion of thefeeding dish 26, or both. The integrated end 65 a is connected andintegral with an integrated lip 67 b. The outer dish 67 includes anintegrated lip 67 b. The integrated lip 67 b connects the outer dish 67to the serving wall 65. The integrated lip 67 b is overlapped by theserving wall 65, including the integrated end 65 a. The overlap allowsfor the food to travel from the serving wall 65 into a serving dish 26.The integrated lip 67 b receives a dish lip 26 a of a feeding dish 26.The dish lip 26 a rests between a gap formed by the integrated end 65 aand the integrated lip 67 b. Located within the outer dish 67 is thefeeding dish 26. The outer dish 67 and feeding dish 26 are tilted at anangle α toward the front 48 of the feeder 10. The serving area 24 alsoincludes a support 67 a. The support 67 a is integral with the outerdish 67. The support 67 a extends downward substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis A_(L) and transverse plane P_(T). Formed between theserving area 24 and the intermediate portion 20 is the feeding cavity22. Extending downward toward the serving area 24 is a chute 28. Thechute 28 includes a chute wall 66. The chute wall 66 is tilted at anangle θ relative to a plane parallel to the transverse plane P_(T). Thechute wall 66 is tilted toward the front 48, the serving area 24, andthe bottom 52. A chute opening 30 is formed between a control wall 112and a serving wall 65. The chute 28 is formed as part of theintermediate portion 20.

The intermediate portion 20 includes a lower shell 20 a and an uppershell 20 b. The lower shell 20 a includes a control wall 112. Thecontrol wall 112 projects downward toward the serving area 24, includingthe serving wall 65. The control wall 112 projects downward toward thebottom 52. The control wall 112 is substantially parallel with alongitudinal axis A_(L) of the feeder 10. The sensing tower 84 is partof the upper shell 20 b. The sensing tower 84 is generally centered with(e.g., coaxial) with the longitudinal axis A_(L) of the feeder 10. Thesensing tower 84 extends through the hollow interior 62 of the hopper 18and opening 104 of the cover 32. The sensing tower 84 includes a cap110. The sensing tower 84 houses one or more sensing devices 86. The oneor more sensing devices 86 may be supported by a sensor bracket 87. Thesensor bracket 87 may be located within and affixed to an interior ofthe sensing tower 84. The one or more sensing devices 86 are located atan upper end 120 of the sensing tower 84. The one or more sensingdevices 86 may be located outside of and exposed from a hollow interiorof the sensing tower 84. The one or more sensing devices 86 may beconfigured to sense the presence, distance, and/or quantity of food 94(not shown) within the hollow interior 62 of the hopper 18.

The feeder 10 includes a lock 144. The lock 144 may function tostabilize the hopper 18 relative to the base 14, The lock 144 may alsoallow for the hopper 18 to remain in place relative to the remainder ofthe housing 12 during a movement of the feeder, a dispensing cycle,eating by an animal, or even if the feeder 10 is knocked over or movedby an animal or human. By affixing the hopper 18 with a lock 144, thefeeder 10 is able to be lifted by the hopper 18 while remaining affixedto the remainder of the feeder 10 components. The bottom wall 68 bincludes a lock channel 146. The lock channel 146 aligns with a lowerlock channel 142. The lower lock channel 142 is formed in theintermediate portion 20. The lower lock channel 142 is formed in theupper shell 20 b. A lock 144 is located within the lock channels 142,146. The lock 144 is held in place by a lock cap 150. Located betweenthe cap 150 and the lock 144 is a bias device 148. The bias device 148may be a helical spring. The bias device 148 may also be located betweenthe cap 150 and the lock channel 146.

A mechanism cavity 82 is formed between the lower shell 20 a and theupper shell 20 b. Located within the mechanism cavity 82 is a drivesource 80. The drive source 80 is affixed to a motor bracket 152. Themotor bracket 152 may be affixed to the upper shell 20 b. The drivesource 80 may be a motor. The drive source 80 includes a drive shaft 81.The drive shaft 81 extends through a control board 114. The drive shaft81 extends into an adapter shaft 116. The adapter shaft 116 includes adisc surface 118. The disc surface 118 is located adjacent to thecontrol board 114. The drive shaft 81 and the adapter shaft 116 extendinto the dispenser housing 60. The dispenser housing 60 is enclosed by adispenser cover 122. Within the dispenser housing 60 is a dispenser 70.The dispenser includes a rocker body 72 having a fin 74 affixed thereto.The fin 74 includes a slit 73 formed therein. A shaft cavity 76 isdefined within the rocker body 72. The drive shaft 81 and adapter shaft116 are located within the shaft cavity 76. The adapter shaft 116 isrotationally engaged with the rocker body 72. Rotation of the adaptershaft 116 results in rotation of the rocker body 72 and fin 74 about therotational axis A_(R).

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-section of a feeder 10 along section A-A ofFIG. 8. The feeder 10 includes a base portion 14, intermediate portion20, and chamber portion 16. The chamber portion 16 includes a hopper 18.The hopper 18 includes a side wall 68 a and a bottom wall 68 b. Thebottom wall 68 b is tapered toward a sensing tower 84. The bottom wall68 b is further tapered toward a dispenser 70. The bottom wall 68 b ofthe hopper 18 rests atop an upper shell 20 b of the intermediate portion20. The bottom wall 68 b includes a hopper opening 69. The hopperopening 69 allows for the hollow interior 62 of the hopper 18 to be incommunication with the dispenser cradle 60 and the dispenser 70. Theupper shell 20 b includes the dispenser cradle 60 formed therein. Thedispenser cradle 60 has a substantially c-shaped profile (e.g., 2Dcross-section). The dispenser cradle 60 has a profile substantiallyreciprocal with a portion of the dispenser 70. The dispenser cradle 60has a profile substantially reciprocal with a rocker body 72 of thedispenser 70. The dispenser cradle 60 includes a cradle outlet 61. Thecradle outlet 61 allows for the dispenser cradle 60 to be incommunication with the chute 28. Within the dispenser cradle 60 is thedispenser 70. The dispenser includes a rocker body 72. The rocker body72 includes a rotational axis A_(R). The rocker body 72 includes a finchannel 75 therein. Located within the fin channel 75 is an attached end77 of the fin 74. The attached end 77 is opposite a free end 79. The fin74 is located between serving walls 90 of the rocker body 72. Thedistance between each serving wall 90 and the fin 74 forms a servingcavity 92.

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate movement of a dispenser 70 from a restingposition 96 (as shown in FIG. 10A) to a dispensing position 98 (as shownin FIG. 10B). In the resting position 96, the fin 74 projects inwardinto the chamber interior 62. In the resting position 96, the fin 74projects away from the chute 28. In the resting position 96, food 94rests between the fin 74 and serving walls 90, such that the food 94rests within the serving cavities 92. To transition between the restingposition 96 to the dispensing position 98, the dispenser 70 rotatesabout a rotational axis A_(R). Rotation of the fin 74 about therotational axis A_(R) results in segregation of a portion of food 94.The segregation of food 94 occurs as the fin 74 passes the bottom wall68 b of the hopper 18. The segregated portion of food 94 remains locatedwithin the serving cavity 92 as the dispenser 70 rotates into thedispensing position 98. In the dispensing position 98, the servingcavity 92 is in communication with the chute 28 such that the segregatedportion of food 94 is transferred from the serving cavity 92 into thechute 28. In the dispensing position 98, the fin 74 blocks food 94remaining with the chamber interior 62 from passing into the chute 28.To transition back to the resting position 96 from the dispensingposition 98, the dispenser 70 rotates back in an opposing direction(e.g., as opposed to completing a full rotation about the rotationalaxis). The dispenser 70 may rotate to a dispensing position in anopposing direction (not shown). Such that the dispenser 70 rotatesbetween a first dispensing position, back to a resting position, then toa second dispensing position, and then back to the resting position. Thesecond dispensing position may be substantially mirrored to the firstdispensing position.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded view of the feeder 10. The feeder 10includes a base portion 14. The base portion 14 has a serving area 24located therein. The serving area 24 includes an outer dish 67. Theouter dish 67 is adapted to receive a serving dish 26. The base portion14 includes an inner shell 124 which locates within an outer shell 126.The base portion 14 includes a bottom cap 56. The bottom cap 56 isreceived within the bottom 52 of the feeder 10. The base portion 14 alsoreceives a plurality of feet 54. The base portion 14 includes aplurality of sleeves 102. Each of the sleeves 102 is adapted to receivea post 100. The sleeves 102 of the base portion 14 receive posts 100 ofthe intermediate portion 20.

The intermediate portion 20 includes a lower shell 20 a and an uppershell 20 b. The lower shell 20 a includes a control wall 112. The spacebetween the upper shell 20 b and the lower shell 20 a defines amechanism cavity 82 when assembled. A drive source 80 is located betweenthe upper shell 20 b and lower shell 20 a. The drive source 80 is ableto be held in place by a motor bracket 152. Extending from the drivesource 80 is a drive shaft 81. The drive shaft 81 extends through acontrol board 114. The control board 114 includes one or more chutesensors 128. The drive shaft 81 extends into an adapter shaft 116. Theadapter shaft 116 includes a disc surface 118. The adapter shaft 116resides within a shaft cavity 76. The shaft cavity 76 is located withina rocker body 72. The rocker body 72 is part of a dispenser 70. Thedispenser 70 also includes a fin 74. A rocker cap (not shown) may alsobe received within the shaft cavity 76 or the shaft cavity 76 may beclosed at one end as part of the rocker body. The rocker cap may belocated opposite the adapter shaft 116 relative to the rocker body 72.The upper shell 20 b and lower shell 20 a each include a portion of acontrol panel housing 130. Located within the control panel housing 130is a control panel 40. The control panel 40 includes a selectioninterface 42, bezel 43, and status indicators 44. Projecting from theupper shell 20 b is a sensing tower 84. The sensing tower 84 includes aconical portion 106 adjacent to a cylindrical portion 108. The sensingtower 84 includes a cap 110 which rests atop the cylindrical portion108. The sensing tower 84 includes one or more sensing devices 86. Thesensing device(s) 86 are located within or adjacent to a hollow interiorof the sensing tower 84. The sensing device(s) 86 may be held in placeby a sensor bracket 87. The sensor bracket 87 resides within a hollowinterior of the sensing tower 84. The sensing tower 84 projects into achamber portion 16.

The chamber portion 16 includes a hopper 18. The hopper 18 includes aside wall 68 a and a bottom wall 68 b. The bottom wall 68 b includes alock channel 146. The lock channel 146 aligns with a lower lock channel142. The lower lock channel 142 is formed in the intermediate portion20. The lower lock channel 142 is formed in the upper shell 20 b. A lock144 is located within the lock channels 142, 146. The lock 144 is heldin place by a lock cap 150. Located between the cap 150 and the lock 144is a bias device 148. The bias device 148 may be a helical spring. Thebias device 148 may also be located between the cap 150 and the lockchannel 146. The hopper 18 includes a hollow interior 62. The hopper 18also includes a dispenser cover 122. A cover 32 rests on the hopper 18.The cover 32 includes a handle 34. The handle 34 includes a handle body46 with an opening 104 therein. The handle 34 includes grip openings134. The grip openings 134 allow for spring grips 136 to extendtherethrough. The spring grips 136 are part of a cover lock 132. Thespring grips 136 engage with springs 138. The springs 138 rest within acover lock body 140.

Any numerical values recited in the above application include all valuesfrom the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unitprovided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between anylower value and any higher value. These are only examples of what isspecifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical valuesbetween the lowest value, and the highest value enumerated are to beconsidered to be expressly stated in this application in a similarmanner. Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints andall numbers between the endpoints.

The terms “generally”, “substantially”, and even “about” to describeangular measurements may mean about +/−10° or less, about +/−5° or less,or even about +/−1° or less. The terms “generally”, “substantially”, andeven “about” to describe angular measurements may mean about +/−0.01° orgreater, about +/−0.1° or greater, or even about +/−0.5° or greater. Theterms “generally”, “substantially”, or even “about” to describe linearmeasurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about +/−10% or less,about +/−5% or less, or even about +/−1% or less. The terms “generally”,“substantially”, or even “about” to describe linear measurements,percentages, or ratios may mean about +/−0.01% or greater, about +/−0.1%or greater, or even about +/−0.5% or greater.

The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shallinclude the elements, ingredients, components, or steps identified, andsuch other elements ingredients, components or steps that do notmaterially affect the basic and novel characteristics of thecombination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” todescribe combinations of elements, ingredients, components, or stepsherein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of theelements, ingredients, components, or steps.

Plural elements, ingredients, components, or steps can be provided by asingle integrated element, ingredient, component, or step.Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component, orstep might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients,components, or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe anelement, ingredient, component, or step is not intended to forecloseadditional elements, ingredients, components, or steps.

1. A feeder comprising: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) achamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain agranular material within a chamber interior; c) a dispenser configuredto segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamberinterior and transfer the portion of the granular material from thechamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i)a rocker body configured to at least partially rotate about a rotationalaxis; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body, whereina distance between the rocker body and the one or more fins is adaptedto receive the portion of the granular material; and a sensing towerwhich at least partially extends through the chamber portion andincludes one or more sensing devices; and wherein the one or moresensing devices are configured to sense a presence, a .distance, and/oran amount of the granular material within the chamber portion. 2-37.(canceled)
 38. The feeder of claim 1, wherein the chamber portionincludes a hopper which is configured to retain the granular materialand defines the chamber interior as a hollow interior.
 39. The feeder ofclaim 38, wherein the hopper includes a bottom wall which is tapered andconfigured to channel the granular material toward the sensing tower,the dispenser, or both.
 40. The feeder of claim 39, wherein the bottomwall is angled toward the sensing tower, the dispenser, or both.
 41. Thefeeder of claim 39, wherein the sensing tower extends through the bottomwall and into the hollow interior of the hopper.
 42. The feeder of claim38, wherein a cover is removably affixed to the hopper.
 43. The feederof claim 42, wherein the sensing tower extends through the hopper from abottom wall of the sensing tower to the cover.
 44. The feeder of claim42, wherein the cover receives and engages with a portion of the sensingtower.
 45. The feeder of claim 44, wherein the cover is located oppositea bottom wall of the hopper.
 46. The feeder of claim 42, wherein thecover is locked in place by one or more locks.
 47. The feeder of claim1, wherein the sensing tower is at least partially conical, prismed, orboth such that it is wider toward a bottom wall of the chamber portion.48. The feeder of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensing devices areaffixed to an upper end of the sensing tower, wherein the upper end islocated opposite a bottom wall of a hopper of the chamber portion. 49.The feeder of claim 48, wherein the one or more sensing devices arelocated adjacent to a cover of the feeder, wherein the cover closes thehopper.
 50. The feeder of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensingdevices have a line of sight into a majority or entirety of the chamberinterior of the chamber portion.
 51. The feeder of claim 1, wherein theone or more sensing devices include one or more mass sensors, capacitivesensors, infrared sensors, laser sensors, ultrasonic sensors, membranesensors, radio frequency (RF) admittance sensors, conductive sensors,optical interface sensors, microwave sensors, or combination thereof.52. The feeder of claim 1, wherein a chute is in communication with thechamber portion and the dispenser is located between the chute and thechamber portion.
 53. The feeder of claim 52, wherein the feeder includesone or more chute sensing devices which are configured to sense apresence, a distance, and/or an amount of the granular material locatedwithin the serving area, the chute, or both.
 54. A feeder comprising: a)a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported bythe base portion and configured to retain a granular material within achamber interior; c) a sensing tower which at least partially extendsthrough the chamber portion and includes one or more sensing devices;and wherein the one or more sensing devices are configured to sense apresence, a distance, and/or an amount of the granular material withinthe chamber portion.
 55. The feeder of claim 54, wherein the chamberportion includes a hopper which is configured to retain the granularmaterial and defines the chamber interior; and wherein the sensing towerextends through an entire length of the hopper.
 56. The feeder of claim54, wherein the one or more sensing devices are located at or adjacentto an end of the sensing tower opposite the base portion.